The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-08-11

to help you, for nothing pleases him bet
ter than to gather a crowd of children
about him. Then there's the black
smiths eldest boy. You don't know
how pleased he would be at being asked
to help YOU"
"The very thing!" said Grace. "Tll
stop there tomorrow and ask him, and
no doubt he can tell me of fourth
helper"
There was no difficulty in getting the
children. Perhaps their mothers found
more in getting them ready, for Friday
morning saw all the clothes-lin IN the
village fluttering with faded little frocks
and pinafores, which needed all that
soap and water could do to make them
presentable. More than one little guest
was without shoes or stockings; but at
least they all had clean faces and famous
appetites. don't know whether the
sun was in Grace's confidence, but it
really seemed as if he knew all about it,
when his bright red face pceped over
the hills and shot glance upward to
the clear sky, and another down to the
dewy fields about five o'clock that morn
ing. He fairly smiled all over when he
looked in at Professor Girton's, until the
quiet house was quite transtigurcd with
the glow. Not only Mrs. Girton and
Grace were there in the kitchen, but
even Will was lending ready hand.
"For it takes the hand of man, or at
least of big boy, to slice bread enough
for Grace's army" said the handsome
young fellow of onc-and-twenty, deftly
plying his knife while he talked.
Ten o'clock was the hour chosen for
starting, but by half-past nine every
child was waiting on Mrs. Girton's lawn.
Grace, in pretty blue gingham gown,
was flying here and there among them,
and her four knights, as Will laughing
ly dubbed himself and his companions,
were slowing pals and baskets in the
cart, and answering ceascless round of
questions from the eager little crowd.
"March2 OF course you may, and
sing too. What do you want to singa"
Somebody suggested "shoo Fly" and
somebody else voted for "Bar- berry AL
lan," but the choice of the majority fell
upon Coward Christian Soldiers" I"
which almost everybody profcssed to
know. 1t turned out that they held
various ideas as to time and tune, but as
they all sang with right good will,
that mattered little. Then Grace and
her brother sang songs in which the chill
dren came in on stirring chorus, and
time passed so quickly that there was a
general cry of surprise when the picnic
ground was. reached. The cart was there,
ready to be unloaded, and Grace and
two of her "knights" took the work in
hand, while the other two lads and Mrs.
Merton started round games among the
children. They played hide-and-seek,
and "here we 60 round the mulberry
bush:" and it turned out that the doc
tors little daughter had brought half a
dozen bean bags, which furnished fun
for twice as many children.
-Four or five little girls wandered out
of sight for while, and then one of the
party came back and held a whispered
consultation with Mrs. Merton 1t ended
in her going back with the child, and
then Mr.. Douglass was called and let
into the secret. The end of it all was,
that when Grace marshalled her forces
and took her place at the head of the
table-or rather, the able-cloth-four
little girls came forward carrying a
wreath of wild flowers, which Will took
and placed upon his sisters head. 1t
proved size too large, and came down
over her shoulders; but Mrs. Merton
soon remedied the trouble by loosening
the ends of the wreath and twining it,
in long spray, from Gracc's shoulder
crosswise to her waist.
There was more than even that hungry
crowd could cat; and when each little
girl. had at last declined another piece of
cake, Will Douglass stood up and made
funny speech, drinking Miss Grace's
health in glass of iced milk, amid much
laughter and clapping of hands onA the
part of the children.
Then Mamie and Saidee, who knew
what Mrs. Douglass could do in the way
of story, begged for one, and Grace
was led away to the foot of large oak
tree, around which all the children
gathered to listen. Mrs. Merton and
the knights" meanwhile cleared away
the remains of the feast, and made lit
tie parcel for each child to take home to
mamma.
Nobody could believe that it was four
O'Clock when two of Mr.. Merton's farm
wagons appeared, followed by their
kind hearted owner and Professor Cir
ton.
And then came the crowning surprise
of the day, cake, and such a cake! 1t
was covered with frosting, had nineteen
candles around the edge, and bore apink
rose in the centre.
Strange to say, it was cut into exactly
thirty-seven pieces. There were thirty
seven children present, including ''Miss
Grace" Mr.. Merton said, and, as he
passed the cake, he warned each little
girl to bite it slowly and very carefully,
as he was almost sure she would find a
big raisin seed, or something else in her
slice.
The children said, fYes, sir;
thank you, sir" and BIZ
into the slices; and at last one